口语学习技巧|to be seen and not heard 乖乖听话，少出声

To be seen and not heard 这个短语来源于英国维多利亚时期的一句老话 Children should be seen and not heard. 它的字面意思是 孩子要被看见，而不被听见，实质用来督促孩子们在大人面前应该维持安静，行为端正。

To be seen and not heard 是被动语态，由于强调的重点对象是 children（孩子） 或与孩子处境相同的大人。依据上下文，这个短语也可以用来提醒大人 不要多嘴。

例句

My mother was very strict when we were little. She thought that my brother and I should be seen and not heard whenever our parents had guests.

大家小的时候，我妈妈很严格。她觉得只须家有客人，我和弟弟就应该维持安静，不吵闹。

Attitudes^{1 to parenting have really changed in recent years. In our grandparents time, children were expected to be seen and not heard.}

近年来，大家对养育子女的态度确实发生了变化。在大家祖爸爸妈妈的年代，大家期望看到孩子们不多说话，行为举止端庄得体。

Our boss^{2 doesnt really want to hear what we think about his ideas. In meetings, he would rather we were seen and not heard.}

大家的老板并不想听大家对他的想法有哪些怎么看。开会时，他更期望大家能安静点，不要多嘴。